Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Exploring the Deep Interior of Neptune with Atomistic Simulations and Shock Compression Experiments
@ Zoom
Presenter: Dr. Mandy Bethkenhagen (ENS Lyon)
Topic: Exploring the Deep Interior of Neptune with Atomistic Simulations and Shock Compression Experiments
Abstract: The interior of the ice giant planet Neptune is dominated by a mixture of water, ammonia, and methane at temperatures between 1000 K and 20 000 K. Many observable properties of the planet, such as luminosity, gravitational moments and magnetic fields, are thought to be determined by the physical and chemical properties of matter within this ice layer. In particular, the superionic phases of water and ammonia, characterized by highly mobile hydrogen ions diffusing through a lattice of oxygen and nitrogen ions, respectively, have gained much attention, because they are suggested to be related to the complex magnetic field structure of Neptune.
Determining the stability domain of such phases, and especially their melting curves, is therefore crucial to constrain the location and extent of the dynamo region in the planets' mantles. This presentation provides an overview of the recent advances made in the study of metallic and
superionic phases of water and ammonia by combining atomistic simulations based on density functional theory with shock-compression experiments. This approach provides accurate equation of state data, phase diagrams, and transport properties such as electrical conductivity, which can provide useful insights for planetary modeling.
Questions? jodi.berdis@jhuapl.edu
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